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Benefit planned for Michelle Combs Whitfield and donor
At the age of 16, Michelle Combs Whitfield found out she had a serious illness. Now, 10 years later, the single mother with a 4-year-old daughter needs a kidney transplant.
Whitfield suffers from Berger’s IgA Nephropathy.
"I just don’t think about it," she said of the 10-year span between the disease diagnosis and the current need.
While she tries not to think about it, the numbers coming from her many kidney-function tests tell the tale that her kidneys continue to fail. She is tired all the time and is beginning to suffer from gout. She may have to soon go on dialysis.
According to her parents, Keith and Debra Combs of Laurel, Michelle’s illness was first misdiagnosed. However, after the correct diagnosis, they took their daughter to Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati where they found that both kidneys had been negatively affected by the disease.
Family members were screened as possible donors, but they were not compatible. However, a co-worker of Whitfield at KB Foods in Greensburg is.
St. Paul resident Shannon Snider, a married mother of two grown sons, has agreed to donate a kidney. Snider who has pledged to be an organ donor upon death, said she wanted to help someone before her death.
"I think it is tremendous," Whitfield’s father said.
While Whitfield has insurance, it does not cover all the costs associated with her illness and transplant-related issues. One shot of hemoglobin can cost around $2,000. She sometimes has to take two a month. Her amount is $577 per month. She is on other medicine, and there are other costs, also.
"Once she has the surgery, she will be on multiple medicines," Combs said.
The Combs also want to make sure that Snider gets help with her family’s bills while she is recovering from the surgery.
A benefit supper for both women will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday in Andersonville at the Posey Township Community Center.
There will also be a 50/50 drawing and an auction. While some businesses have already donated for the auction, the Combs are looking for more donations.
If any money is left over following the transplant and aftermath, Whifield’s father said the money will be donated to Children’s Hospital or to another person going through similar circumstances.
"We’ve always gone to benefits and fund-raisers, and now we are the ones asking for help," Keith Combs said.
Anyone wanting more information about donating items for the auction, the fund-raiser or how to help the family can call the Combs at (765) 698-3767. To find out more about the disease go to www.kidney disease.com "Berger’s Disease."
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